Faqs

Temporary residence applications (visitor visa, work permit, study permit)

Temporary Residence Application – Online submission

Temporary Residence Application – Paper submission

All other applications (sponsorship, permanent residence, Canadian citizenship)

If you are the sponsor or principal applicant, you can check the Client Application Status (CAS) service. (Note: If you are a family member included on someone else’s application, you can view your profile but not the status of your application.)

To use this service, you will need to enter some personal information, such as:

• the identification number related to the application, immigration document or correspondence you got from CIC,
• your surname(s) as they appear on your application or identity documents,
• your date of birth and
• your place of birth.

• you wish to report important changes regarding your application, such as births, deaths, marriages, divorces, adoptions, changes in address, changes in employment, acquisition of a new educational credential or results of an approved language test;
• you are seeking information that is not available via the Client Application Status service; or
• the processing of your application is taking longer than the normal processing time (you will not get an answer if the normal processing time has not yet elapsed).

• carefully read the application guide for your immigration category and follow the instructions;
• properly fill out, sign and date the application form(s);
• include all the required documents as indicated on the application checklist;
• pay the right fee using the correct method of payment; include the payment with your application; and
• double-check your application before submitting it.

• answered all of the questions on the application form, and
• submitted all the necessary documents along with your application.

• read the instruction guide and the application package, that includes the paper application forms you need to fill out, or
• use the Come to Canada tool to find out if you’re eligible to apply and to get a personalized document checklist that provides you with a list of documents you need to submit, according to your specific situation.

• the number of applications received;
• the resources at an office;
• the length of time an applicant takes to respond to requests for information;
• the need for medical and security screening; and
• differences in mail service.

• The application is not yet in process: Your application status is available only once the processing of the application has started.
• You have submitted a type of application that is not included in CAS: You cannot see information on temporary residence applications (work permit, study permit or visitor record) on CAS. Note: Applicants who used MyCIC to apply will receive an email update once a decision has been reached regarding your application.
• You are not the sponsor or principal applicant for an immigration application: As a family member included on an immigration application, you cannot view the status of your application online. You can view your profile but not the status of your application. Only the sponsor or principal applicant can see the status information.

• sponsored a member of the family class,
• applied for permanent residence,
• applied for a permanent resident card,
• applied for Canadian citizenship (grant of citizenship),
• applied for Canadian citizenship for a person adopted by a Canadian citizen (on or after January 1, 1947),
• applied for a citizenship certificate (proof of Canadian citizenship),
• applied to renounce Canadian citizenship or
• applied to resume Canadian citizenship.

• you are entering the correct information and
• all the fields in CAS contain information about the principal applicant (the person who applied to come to Canada).

• identification number (such as the client number or receipt number),
• name,
• date of birth and
• place of birth.

• identification number (such as the client number or receipt number),
• name,
• date of birth and
• place of birth.

• your immigration document or
• any letters you got from the visa office or case processing centre where you sent your application.

• Your full name is Jose Pedro Sanchez Ruiz.
• Your immigration document, letter or application says your surname or family name is “Sanchez Ruiz.”
• You must enter the surname or family name “Sanchez Ruiz.”

• For in-Canada or online applications, use our online form.
• If you applied outside of Canada, tell your visa office.

• Open Client Application Status (CAS) again through the Online Services page.
• Make sure the date of birth you are entering in CAS exactly matches the information on your application, passport and identity documents. Use the format specified.
• Make sure the place of birth you are entering in CAS exactly matches the information on your application, passport and identity documents. Use the format specified.
• Check the spelling and order of your names on any letters from the visa office or case processing centre, and on your passport and other supporting documents.

• Internet Explorer,
• Firefox,
• Chrome and
• Safari.

We want to know about the technical issues you may be experiencing, so we can help solve the issue.

The more information we have, the faster we can help to resolve the issue. To further help us, please give us following information:

• Surname (last name)
• Given name(s)
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Unique Client Identifier/Client ID Number, if available
• Application number, if available
• Personal Checklist code, if available
• Your current status in Canada and the date of expiration, if applicable
• Type of application (work permit, study permit, visitor record, etc.)
• The date your application was submitted, if applicable
• Description of the problem or error message, with a screenshot, if possible, of the page where you are experiencing the problem.
• As much information as possible about the steps you took before you experienced the problem.

Where to send your information

If you are encountering problems after you submitted your online application:

• Use the case specific webform

If you are encountering problems before you submit your application (while you are preparing your online application and uploading your documents):

• Send the above information by selecting the “Share with CIC” link available at the top left-hand corner of your MyCIC account page.

• Firefox
• Chrome
• Safari
• Internet explorer 7-11

• Internet Explorer,
• Firefox,
• Chrome and
• Safari.

You need Adobe Reader 10 or higher to use applications in PDF format.

Adobe Reader can be downloaded free from the Adobe website. It is available for Windows and Mac computers.

Opening PDF applications on our website

Some web browsers do not open PDF files in Adobe Reader. They use other software. If you have problems opening a PDF on our website, download the file to your own computer. To do this, follow the download instructions.

Then, open the file from your computer.

Opening PDFs on your computer

If you have downloaded a PDF and it is not opening properly, follow these instructions:

1. Right click on the PDF.
2. Select “Open with”.
3. Select “Choose program”.
4. Select “Adobe Acrobat Reader”.
5. Make sure to check the box that says “Always use this program to open these files”.
6. Select “OK”.

If a PDF document opens up blank, or you get an error message, you can try:

• opening the document using a different browser; or
• installing the newest version of Internet Explorer

If you are using Internet Explorer version 7 you may experience some issues. Opening documents or PDF files from a secure website (such as your MyCIC account) is a known problem documented by Microsoft.

If you have tried the above but are still unable to open the document, please let us know about your technical issue.

• MyCIC
• CIC Portal for Authorized Paid Representatives

• 1-855-433-5397 (in North America)
• TTY/TDD: 1-855-224-1714
• 1-800-7328-7358 (outside of North America)

• BMO Financial Group,
• CHOICE REWARDS MasterCard,
• Scotiabank,
• TD Bank Group, and
• Tangerine.

• Visa,
• MasterCard,
• American Express, or
• Prepaid credit cards.

• begin an online application for a visitor visa, study or work permit, or
• to carry your information from Come to Canada over to an Express Entry profile.

• sign in to your MyCIC account,
• scroll down to the section “View my submitted applications or profiles,”
• click on the “Check status and messages” button in the last column.

• If you are in the application for services related to visas, study or work permits, click the blue “Exit Questionnaire” button at the bottom left of the page to end your session. When you click “Exit,” your online application will automatically be saved.
• If you are in an Express Entry profile or online application for permanent residence, click the grey “Save and Exit” button at the bottom left of the page.

• the information you gave in your application is true, and
• the supporting documents you are sending are genuine.

• Your name
• Your Unique Client Identifier (UCI) (if you have one)
• Your date of birth
• Your country of birth
• Your application type
• The date you submitted your online application
• Your application number (if known)
• Your payment receipt number (if known)

• Write a letter with your questions or explanation; and
• Upload it into the slot for the requested document you have questions about.

You must meet different requirements to apply for citizenship depending on your situation. Are you:

• An adult (18 years of age or older) permanent resident of Canada applying for yourself or your minor (under 18) child.
• A current or former member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) applying under the fast-track process.
• Someone who used to be a Canadian citizen, including current and former CAF members, and wants to get your Canadian citizenship back.
• A Canadian applying for citizenship for their adopted child who was born outside Canada.

There are not special requirements for spouses of Canadian citizens to apply for citizenship. Spouses of Canadians must meet the same requirements as other adults. You do not automatically become a citizen when you marry a Canadian.

Every country decides whom it considers to be a citizen. If more than one country recognizes you as a citizen, you have dual citizenship.

You do not apply for dual citizenship and there is no related certificate. Canadians are allowed to take foreign citizenship while keeping their Canadian citizenship.

If you are a permanent resident but not a Canadian citizen, ask the embassy of your country of citizenship about its rules before applying for Canadian citizenship.

For more information about dual citizenship and important things you need to know, visit the page on: Travelling as a dual citizen.

No. Marriage to a Canadian citizen does not give you citizenship.

If you want to become a Canadian citizen, you must follow the same steps as everyone else. That is, there is not a special process for spouses of Canadian citizens to become citizens.

You must meet several requirements to apply for citizenship. Two of them are:

• You must be a permanent resident of Canada.
• You must have lived in Canada for three of the four years before you apply.

If you are not a permanent resident or do not live in Canada, your Canadian spouse can sponsor you to become a permanent resident. See the processing times for how long this step might take.

When you are a permanent resident or if you are a permanent resident now, and you have lived in Canada long enough, you may apply for citizenship if you meet the other requirements. Use the residence calculator to learn if you have lived in Canada long enough.

There are different rules to determine if children of Canadians born outside Canada have Canadian citizenship.

Every situation is different. This answer is just a guide. The official way to find if your child is a citizen is to apply for a proof of citizenship for them.

This question is only for people who were citizens when their children were born. If you got Canadian citizenship after your children were born, your children did not automatically become citizens because you did.

On April 17, 2009, the rules changed for persons born outside Canada to a Canadian parent. Pick the situation that applies to you.

There are a number of laws and rules that affect if your children are Canadian. They probably are because most children born to Canadian parents before April 17, 2009, were citizens at birth.

Use the scenarios in the instruction guide for Proof of Citizenship to see if they are Canadian.

Your children will only be Canadian at birth if you:

• were born in Canada, or
• became a naturalized Canadian citizen before they were born. (If you were adopted, see the exception below.)

There are exceptions to these rules.

Your children born outside Canada will not be citizens if you were:

• born outside Canada,
• adopted by a Canadian citizen, and
• became a Canadian citizen using the citizenship process for intercountry adoption.

However, if your children’s other parent was born in Canada or is a naturalized citizen, your children will became citizens through them.

Your children will be citizens at birth if, when they were born, you had a job with:

• the Canadian Armed Forces,
• the federal public administration, or
• the public service of a province or territory.

This rule does not apply if you were employed as a locally engaged person.

Your children will be citizens at birth if, when you were born outside Canada, your Canadian parent had a job with:

• the Canadian Armed Forces,
• the federal public administration, or
• the public service of a province or territory.

This rule does not apply if your Canadian parent was employed as a locally engaged person.

Only in certain circumstances. You can count time spent outside Canada toward the residence requirement for a grant of citizenship if you spent the time with a spouse who is a Canadian citizen working at that time with the:

• federal public administration of Canada;
• public service of a province; or
• Canadian armed forces.

The Citizenship Act requires that new citizens have “an adequate knowledge of one of the official languages of Canada,” which are English and French.

We define “adequate knowledge” as having the equivalent of Level 4 for speaking and listening in English or French using the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC). This level means you can, in English or French:

• take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics;
• understand simple instructions, questions and directions;
• use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses; and
• show that you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself.

Learn how we measure your ability to speak and listen in English or French using CLB / NCLC.

We use the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) to measure if you have adequate knowledge of English or French. To get Canadian citizenship, you must reach CLB/NCLC Level 4 or higher.

CLB/NCLC is the official standard used in Canada to describe, measure and recognize how well someone can communicate in their second language. Using a standard like CLB/NCLC means everyone is evaluated the same way.

There are two ways we measure how well you can speak and listen in English or French.

• First, if you are between 18 and 54, you must send documents that prove you can speak and listen in English or French at Level 4 with your citizenship application.
• Second, we will note how well you communicate when you talk to staff or a citizenship officer interviews you.

Using the CLB/NCLC, a citizenship officer will make the final decision if you have adequate knowledge of English or French.

If you are between 18 and 54 when you apply, you must have reached the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) Level 4 (CLB/NCLC 4) or higher in speaking and listening.

Reaching CLB/NCLC 4 means you have “adequate knowledge” of English or French, which you need to become a Canadian citizen. We use a few ways to determine if you have reached Level 4.

If you are between 18 and 54, you must send documents that prove you can speak and listen in English or French at CLB/NCLC 4 with your citizenship application.

Learn how we measure your ability to speak and listen in English or French using CLB / NCLC.

You can send us one of a number of different documents to show that you meet the language requirement. For example:

• the results of a CIC-approved third-party test, or
• evidence of completion of secondary or post-secondary education in English or French, in Canada or abroad, or
• evidence from certain government-funded language training programs.

These documents will show you have reach Level 4 or higher in the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) or speaking and listening in English or French. This is the level you need to apply for citizenship.

You can use our wizard to see if you have the proof we will accept or check the complete list of acceptable documents.

We will only accept documents on this list. We will not accept documents that are not on this list, even if they are similar.

We will try to verify the language proof you send us. We will not process your application and will return the entire application to you if your proof is:

• not included with the application;
• in a language other than English or French;
• cannot be read;
• cannot be verified; or
• is not on the list of what we will accept.

A third-party test is a test done by an organization that is not CIC.

We will accept third-party test results as proof of your language ability if it is from one of the following organizations:

• CELPIP General (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program General test)
• CELPIP General-LS - a two-skills (listening and speaking) version of the CELPIP General test
• IELTS - General training - General training (International English Language Testing System)
• Test d'Évaluation de Français (TEF) (in French)
• Test d'Évaluation de Français (TEFAQ) (in French) or TEF pour la naturalisation – a two-skills (listening and speaking) version of the TEF

The following tests will be accepted only if they have been previously submitted for immigration purposes to Quebec:

• Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) (in French)
• Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) (in French)
• Test de connaissance du français (TCF) or Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec (TCFQ)

We will not accept third-party test results that are not on this list, even if they are similar.

Visit the organizations’ websites to learn how to write the exams. Since they are not run by CIC, we do not track when and where they are offered.

In some cases, you may send test results that you already sent us or the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion (MIDI). We will accept the test results that you sent with your application for:

• Federal Skilled Worker
• Quebec-selected Skilled Worker or
• Canadian Experience Class

See the complete list of acceptable documents.

You may send a transcript, diploma or certificate showing that you graduated from a secondary school or from a post-secondary program in Canada or abroad. These materials must show that the program was in English or French. A single course in an official language is not enough to meet this requirement.

See the complete list of acceptable documents.

Yes. You may submit a certificate from a federally-funded Language Instruction for Newcomers Course (LINC) or Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC) program with your citizenship application if you have reached CLB/NCLC 4 in speaking and listening. If you took LINC/CLIC classes between January 1, 2008 and October 31, 2012, you can indicate on the citizenship application form that you have attended a Language Instruction for Newcomers Course and reached the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)/Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level 4 or higher in speaking and listening.

CIC will also accept results from some provincially-funded language training programs. If you attended language training in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec (in French only), you can provide a certificate or report card that shows that you have completed language training at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)/Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level 4 or higher.

See the complete list of acceptable documents.

No. You must provide evidence that you have reached CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening as part of a LINC/CLIC course to meet the language ability requirement for your citizenship. A placement test done by a LINC/CLIC assessment center is not accepted as evidence.

Yes. You may send the same third-party language test results from your immigration application with your application for citizenship. There is no expiration date for third-party language test results for citizenship applicants.

No. If you have taken private language classes, those classes are not enough to prove that you speak French or English well enough to apply for Canadian citizenship. You must take a CIC-approved third-party language test. If you achieve CLB/NCLC 4 or above on this test, submit the results with your citizenship application.

If your citizenship application was deemed to be complete and received (by CIC) before June 11, 2015, the new residence requirements and expanded age groups for language and knowledge testing do not affect your application or the applications of any associated minors.

However, some situations could prevent you from being granted citizenship regardless of when you apply, including misrepresenting yourself, criminal offences abroad and any unfulfilled conditions attached to your status as a permanent resident.

Fees for adults and children under 18 are available on the Fees list.

You must provide two citizenship photos taken within the last 6 months. Take the Citizenship Photograph Specifications form, included in the application kit, to the photographer to make sure that your photos are the right size.

Yes. To apply for citizenship, you must have lived in Canada for three out of the last four years. Those four years are the ones leading up to the date you sign the application. There is not a requirement to stay in Canada while we process your application. However, if you must leave Canada there are several risks you should be aware of.

If you leave Canada, you must continue to meet your residency obligation to keep permanent resident (PR) status. You must be a permanent resident to become a citizen and not just when you apply. If you lose PR status before you take the Oath of Citizenship, you cannot become a citizen. Bring your PR card with you when you leave Canada so you can return easily. Make sure the card will not expire while you are outside Canada. (If your PR card expires, is does not mean you have lost PR status.)

We generally only mail letters, notices and other material to addresses in Canada. Sometimes, you must reply to these letters within a certain amount of time. If you do not reply in time, we will close your application.

You must attend meetings and other events at our offices, like your citizenship test, interview and ceremony. These events only take place in Canada. To reschedule these events or if you miss one, you must contact the CIC Call Centre. The Call Centre can only be reached from within Canada.

Yes. If you are not available on the date and time of your appointment, contact the Call Centre. We will schedule your appointment on a different date.

If you do not attend your appointment, you must contact the Call Centre within a certain amount of time. Tell us why you missed your appointment. The notice we sent you inviting you to the appointment will tell you when you must contact us. If you do not contact us in time, we will close your application. You will have to apply for citizenship again.

To check the status of your application, you can:

• Step 1: Check the processing times.
• Step 2: Check the status of your application online through the Client Application Status service.
• Step 3: If normal processing time for your application has passed, you may contact the Call Centre to verify the status of your application.

Learn what is CIC doing to reduce citizenship processing times?

First, find out if you can get a refund. If you still wish to withdraw your application, send a request by mail.

Write “Withdrawal of Application” on the envelope. Send us:

• Form CIT 0027E Withdrawal of Citizenship Application (PDF, 614.78 KB); and
• A copy of the electronic payment receipt or a copy of both sides of the payment receipt (Form IMM5401).

We recommend that you keep a copy of the withdrawal form for your records.

Where to mail the application

If you sent your application to a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate, mail your withdrawal request there.

If you sent your application to CPC-Sydney and your application has not yet been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to:

• General Mailing Address
  CPC-Sydney
  P.O. Box 12000
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 7C2
• Courier Address
  CPC-Sydney
  49 Dorchester Street
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 5Z2

If your application has been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to that office. You will find contact information for the office processing your application on the letter we sent you.

If you do not know if your application has been transferred or which office is processing your application, contact the Call Centre.

Write “Withdrawal of Application” on the envelope. Send us:

• Form CIT 0027E Withdrawal of Citizenship Application (PDF, 614.78 KB); and
• A copy of the electronic payment receipt or a copy of both sides of the payment receipt (Form IMM5401).

We recommend that you keep a copy of the withdrawal form for your records.

Where to mail the application

If you sent your application to a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate, mail your withdrawal request there.

If you sent your application to CPC-Sydney and your application has not yet been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to:

• General Mailing Address
  CPC-Sydney
  P.O. Box 12000
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 7C2
• Courier Address
  CPC-Sydney
  49 Dorchester Street
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 5Z2

If your application has been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to that office. You will find contact information for the office processing your application on the letter we sent you.

If you do not know if your application has been transferred or which office is processing your application, contact the Call Centre.

You can apply for Canadian citizenship again. This new application must include all the required forms and documents, including a new application fee. There is no waiting period before you can reapply. However, you should make sure you meet the requirements for Canadian citizenship before you reapply.

If your citizenship application is refused, you may also seek judicial review of the decision by the Federal Court of Canada. This is not an appeal of the decision. You have thirty (30) days from the date on the refusal letter to apply.

No. Check the “Yes” box for Question 9D “History of Entries to Canada” on your citizenship application. This will give us permission to get your history of entries from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It will also take less time than you asking the CBSA for your history.

We use your history of entries to make sure that you have been in Canada long enough to qualify for citizenship.

If you do not check the “Yes” box, you may be asked to send a request for personal information to the CBSA to get your history of entries. Doing this may make the time to process your application longer than the routine processing times for citizenship.

When you check “Yes”, you are giving us permission to get your history of entries from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). We need this information to process your citizenship application.

You must check this box because one government department cannot share your personal information with another department without your permission. If you do not check the “Yes” box, you may be asked to request your history from the CBSA and then send it to us. This process takes longer and may make your application take longer than the routine processing times for citizenship.

Everyone between 18 and 54 years old at the time they apply for citizenship must take the citizenship test. We use the test to determine if you have adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. It will also be used to determine if you have adequate knowledge of English or French.

If you are 55 years of age or older when you apply, you do not have to take the test. Children who are under the age of 18 at the time of application do not have to take the test either.

The citizenship test covers the range of topics and subjects found in the citizenship study guide entitled Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. You should study this guide to prepare for the test. On the test, you can expect to see questions that ask about:

• facts and ideas presented in Discover Canada;
• your understanding of Canada’s history, symbols, institutions and values; and
• the rights, responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

Yes, you can find study questions for the citizenship test in Discover Canada.

The time between submitting your application and writing the citizenship test can vary from one case to the next and depends on our processing times.

When we begin processing your application, we will mail you a letter telling you this. Later, we will mail you a notice telling you the time and location of your test. This is your official confirmation that you will be taking the citizenship test.

You can also check the Client Application Status service, which will tell you when we mailed letters or notices to you.

If you move to a new address, you must tell us. You can update your address online.

If you require urgent processing, please consult How can I get my application processed urgently?

Yes. If you are not available on the date and time of your citizenship test, the notice inviting you to the test will tell you how to reschedule it.

If this is the first time you have been asked to write the test, we will automatically re-schedule you for a new date if you miss the test.

Learn more about what do to if you miss your citizenship test.

The steps you should take if you did not attend your citizenship test depend on if we sent you:

• a first notice to write the test,
• a final notice to write the test, or
• a notice to re-write the test.

If this was the first time you were asked to write the test, you can:

• contact us to let us know you missed the test, or
• wait to be automatically rescheduled for another date.

You have 30 days from the test date to contact us and let us know why you missed the test. The notice inviting you to the test will tell you how to do this.

The local office handling your application will decide if you have a valid reason for missing the test.

If your reason is valid, we will send you another notice with a new test date. (We will consider this new notice as another first notice in case you miss this new date, but have a valid reason for not attending.)

If your reason is not valid, we will treat you the same as someone who missed the test and did not contact us. (See “Be rescheduled automatically” below.)

We will automatically reschedule you for a new date to write the test if you did not attend the test and you:

• did not contact us to let us know, or
• did not have a valid reason for missing the test.

We will send you a new notice telling you the new test date. This will be your final notice to write the exam.

This new test date will usually be two weeks or more after the date of the test you missed.

You must contact us within 30 days of the test date if you:

• missed your first test,
• received a final notice to write the test, and
• missed that test, too.

The notice inviting you to the new test date will tell you how to contact us.

The local office handling your application will decide if you have a valid reason for missing the test.

If your reason is valid, we will send you another final notice with a new test date.

We may close your application for citizenship if:

• you do not contact us within 30 days, or
• you do not have a valid reason for missing the test.

You will have to apply for citizenship again.

You must contact us within 30 days of the test date if you:

• failed the citizenship test the first time you took it,
• were scheduled to re-write the test, and
• missed that date.

The notice inviting you to the re-write the test will tell you how to contact us.

The local office handling your application will decide if you have a valid reason for missing the test.

If your reason is valid, we will send you a new notice to re-write the test.

We may close your application for citizenship if:

• you do not contact us within 30 days, or
• you do not have a valid reason for missing the test.

You will have to apply for citizenship again.

We will give you the results of your test right after you take it.

If you pass and meet the others requirements for citizenship, we may give you a citizenship ceremony date at the same time we give you the results. If we do not, we will mail you a letter with the date and time of your ceremony. You will receive this letter two to four weeks before the ceremony. The ceremony will normally take place within six months after you pass the test.

If you do not pass the exam the first time, you can write it again. If you pass the second time, we will either give you the date or mail you a letter, just like we would have if you have passed the first exam.

If you are asked to attend a hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge, we will send you a letter after the hearing. This letter will tell you if the officer or the judge has decided to grant you citizenship and, if so, the date of your ceremony.

If you do not pass the second test, we will send you a notice telling you to appear for a hearing with a citizenship officer. During this hearing, the citizenship officer may assess whether you meet all the requirements for citizenship. During an oral interview, the citizenship officer may:

• test your knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship;
• ask questions about your residency in Canada; and/or
• assess if you have adequate knowledge of English or French.

If you are asked to attend an interview, but applied for citizenship with your family by sending your applications in the same envelope, your application will be processed separately from your family's unless you want them to be processed together.

Yes. If you are not available on the date and time to meet with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge as part of your application for citizenship, you can schedule a new date and time.

The notice asking you to appear will contain the details of:

• How to schedule a new appointment.
• What will happen if you do not attend the meeting.

The hearing will last 30 to 90 minutes. At the hearing, the citizenship officer will ask you questions orally to see if you meet the conditions of citizenship, including knowledge of Canada. After your hearing, we will send you a letter with the results.

If you passed the interview, the letter will tell you the date of your citizenship ceremony.

Not passing the interview will cause your application for citizenship to be refused.

We will give you the results of your test right after you take it.

If you meet all the requirements for citizenship, including passing the citizenship test, we will invite you to a ceremony to take the oath of citizenship. This ceremony will normally take place within six months after you pass the test.

If you do not pass the exam the first time, you can write it again. If you pass the second time, we will either give you the date or mail you a letter, just like we would have if you have passed the first exam.

If you are asked to attend a hearing with a citizenship officer or a citizenship judge, we will send you a letter after the hearing. This letter will tell you if the officer or the judge has decided to grant you citizenship and, if so, the date of your ceremony.

To replace your citizenship certificate, follow the steps to apply for proof of citizenship. You must use this process if your certificate was lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed.

If your card/certificate was lost or stolen, you should report it to your local police department. You do not need to tell CIC it was lost or stolen.

We stopped issuing the plastic wallet sized citizenship cards with the commemorative certificates in February 2012. If you lost your card or need to make a change to it, you must apply for a citizenship certificate. We will not send you a new card.

The commemorative certificates that were given out with the plastic citizenship cards cannot be used as proof of citizenship. We will not replace a commemorative certificate.

If you are not sure if you have a commemorative certificate or not, see the examples of citizenship certificates. If your certificate does not look like these examples, you have a commemorative certificate.

If you are applying for a citizenship certificate for the first time, you must send original documents or certified photocopies. If you are applying for a replacement certificate, you can send photocopies of your documents.

If you are a Canadian citizen because you were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, you will have to provide:

• A birth certificate that was issued by the government in the country where you were born and that lists your parents’ names;
• Evidence that one parent was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth.

If you were born in Canada, the birth certificate issued by the province or territory where you were born is your proof of Canadian citizenship.

Birth certificates issued by the Government of Quebec before January 1, 1994, are no longer accepted when you apply for a citizenship certificate. For more information, contact the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec.

Yes. We will replace your citizenship certificate if:

1. we made a mistake in processing it, and
2. it has been 90 days or less since you received your citizenship certificate.

If it has been more than 90 days since:

• you received your certificate at a citizenship ceremony, or
• Case Processing Centre-Sydney (CPC-Sydney) mailed your certificate to you,

You must submit an application for a citizenship certificate and pay the processing fee. You must also follow this process to replace your citizenship certificate for another reason.

If it has been 90 days or less since you received your citizenship certificate, send us:

• the citizenship certificate with the mistake,
• a note explaining what needs to be fixed, and
• if your request is urgent:
  • write “Urgent” in large, dark letters on the envelope,
  • include an explanation of why your request is urgent, and
  • include any documents that support your explanation.

We will replace your certificate free of charge.

If you live in Canada, mail your request to:

• If you are sending your request by regular mail
  Request for replacement certificate
  CPC-Sydney
  P.O. Box 10000
  Sydney, NS
  B1P 7C1
• If you are sending your request by a courier company
  Request for replacement certificate
  CPC-Sydney
  49 Dorchester Street
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 5Z2

If you live in the United States:

• If you submitted your application for a citizenship certificate on or after September 2, 2013, send your request to CPC-Sydney using the addresses above.
• If you had submitted your application for a citizenship certificate before September 2, 2013, send your request to the Canadian embassy or consulate responsible for your region.

If you live outside Canada and outside the United States, send your request to the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your region.

If your request is not approved

If your request for a replacement certificate is not approved (e.g., if it was determined that a processing error was not made), we will return your documents to you. We will also explain why we did not approve your request.

To prove a minor (under 18 years old) is a Canadian citizen, apply to get a citizenship certificate (adults and minors). Do not use the application form for Canadian citizenship (minors).

You must be their parent or legal guardian to apply for them. When answering the questions, fill in the form with the minor's information.

To change the name on your citizenship certificate, follow the same steps to apply for a citizenship certificate. Send us documents showing you legally changed your name. The application guide for a citizenship certificate lists these documents.

If you need to change your name on a plastic citizenship card, you must also apply for a citizenship certificate. We stopped issuing citizenship cards in February 2012.

First, find out if you can get a refund. If you still wish to withdraw your application, send a request by mail.

Write “Withdrawal of Application” on the envelope. Send us:

• Form CIT 0027E Withdrawal of Citizenship Application (PDF, 600.37 KB); and
• A copy of the electronic payment receipt or a copy of both sides of the payment receipt (Form IMM5401).

We recommend that you keep a copy of the withdrawal form for your records.

Where to mail the application

If you sent your application to a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate, mail your withdrawal request there.

If you sent your application to CPC-Sydney and your application has not yet been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to:

• General Mailing Address
  CPC-Sydney
  P.O. Box 12000
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 7C2
• Courier Address
  CPC-Sydney
  49 Dorchester Street
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 5Z2

If your application has been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to that office. You will find contact information for the office processing your application on the letter we sent you.

If you do not know if your application has been transferred or which office is processing your application, contact the Call Centre.

First, find out if you can get a refund. If you still wish to withdraw your application, send a request by mail.

Write “Withdrawal of Application” on the envelope. Send us:

• Form CIT 0027E Withdrawal of Citizenship Application (PDF, 600.37 KB); and
• A copy of the electronic payment receipt or a copy of both sides of the payment receipt (Form IMM5401).

We recommend that you keep a copy of the withdrawal form for your records.

Where to mail the application

If you sent your application to a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate, mail your withdrawal request there.

If you sent your application to CPC-Sydney and your application has not yet been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to:

• General Mailing Address
  CPC-Sydney
  P.O. Box 12000
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 7C2
• Courier Address
  CPC-Sydney
  49 Dorchester Street
  Sydney, Nova Scotia
  B1P 5Z2

If your application has been transferred to a local CIC office, mail your withdrawal request to that office. You will find contact information for the office processing your application on the letter we sent you.

If you do not know if your application has been transferred or which office is processing your application, contact the Call Centre.

• If you will use a commercial vehicle, like a bus or plane, to return to Canada, you must apply for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad).
• If you are returning to Canada by private vehicle, there are other documents you can use to re-enter Canada. If you do not have these documents, you must apply for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad).

• will be travelling outside Canada and returning on a commercial carrier, and
• will not be able to get their PR card in time for their trip.

• If you applied from overseas: at the same time as your visa
• If you applied from within Canada: when you landed at your local visa office

• a list of options, and
• step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

• already be a permanent resident of Canada;
• be physically present in Canada;
• not have been asked by the Government of Canada to leave the country; and
• not be a Canadian citizen.

• you want to travel outside Canada and will return to Canada on a commercial vehicle, like a bus, plane or boat,
• you did not get your PR card after you gave CIC your Canadian mailing address, and it has been more than 180 days since you entered Canada, or
• your card was lost, stolen or destroyed and you want a new one.

• online with a credit card, or
• at a financial institution (such as a bank) before going to the bank, you will need to get an official Fees Receipt (form IMM 5401).

• properly fill out and sign the application form(s);
• fill out Section F (Solemn Declaration) if your card was: lost, stolen, destroyed or never received;
• include all the documents listed on the Document Checklist at the end of the form;
• include the supplementary identification form;
• pay: online with a credit card, or at a financial institution (such as a bank) before going to the bank, you will need to get an official Fees Receipt (form IMM 5401), and include the proof of payment with your application.

• the dates you will be traveling,
• your personal information such as your full name,
• your travel provider's information such as airline, train, bus, or boat company name,
• that you have a return ticket leaving from Canada, and your destination (where you are going).

• the date that you paid,
• the amount paid, and
• how you paid.

We do not mail permanent resident (PR) cards to addresses outside Canada. Please choose the option below that describes your case.

If your card has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you need to tell CIC.

You may also need a passport to re-enter Canada. Please see the Canadian Border Services Agency website for what documents you will need at the border.

If you plan to return in a commercial vehicle, like a plane or bus

If you plan to return to Canada in a commercial vehicle — such as a plane, train, boat or bus — you must apply for a travel document at a visa office outside Canada before you return to Canada.

You should also check with the commercial operator (for example, the airline or bus company you will be using) to see what documents they need.

If you return in a private vehicle, like your own car

If you return to Canada in a private vehicle, such as your own car, you do not need a PR card. You can use your Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688) instead.

You would have been given these documents:

• if you applied from overseas: at the same time as your visa, or
• if you applied from within Canada at your local visa office when you landed.

An officer will ask you questions to make sure you meet all of the residency requirements before they allow you to come back to Canada.

When you return to Canada, apply for a PR card if you plan to travel outside Canada again.

• fill out some forms,
• send us two photos that follows our specifications,
• send supporting documents, and
• pay a C$50 fee.

The program re-opened on January 2, 2015. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has now received 5,000 complete applications and the new intake into the PGP program will again pause until next year.

Application forms, guides and information on how to apply to the PGP program are available on CIC's website.

Between January 2, 2015, to January 1, 2016, Citizenship and Immigration Canada will accept a maximum of 5,000 new, complete applications for sponsorship of parents and grandparents.

The cap of 5,000 applications is not the first 5,000 applications received, but the first 5,000 complete applications received from applicants. Complete applications include all supporting documents included in the document checklist found in the application guide and correct payment for the application.

For more information on sending a complete application, see What is a complete application package?

As there will be an annual cap on the acceptance of new sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents, payment to the Receiver General for Canada will only be accepted by credit card or certified cheque. Fees that are paid in any other manner (such as on-line payment or payment at a financial institution in Canada using the form IMM5401) will not be accepted and the application will be returned to the sponsor or representative, where applicable. If an application is returned and the applicant re-submits, the application will be placed in the processing queue according to the new date of submission.

Note that if a credit card is used for fee payment, it must be valid for at least nine months from the date on which the application is submitted.

The sponsor’s total income will be calculated on the basis of notices of assessment issued by the Canada Revenue Agency for each of the three consecutive taxation years before the application was submitted.

A sponsor applying on January 2, 2015 will be required to provide proof of income for 2011, 2012 and 2013, given that the notice of assessment for 2014 would not be available at the time of the application.

Parent and grandparent sponsorship applications cannot be delivered in person. Applications will be accepted on or after January 2, 2015 at CIC’s Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario (CPC-M) exclusively, by mail or by courier only. CPC-M is not open to the public and no in-person deliveries will be accepted. Applications must be individually packaged.

See also: What courier service can I use to submit my application to sponsor a parent or grand-parent?

Applications for parent and grandparent sponsorship must be individually packaged and sent to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M). The office accepts local couriers and major courier services.

Couriers must have waybills and require a signature by CPC-M staff to prove that it was delivered, when it was delivered and that it was accepted (for their client’s tracking purposes).

CPC-M does not accept envelopes or packages from non-courier services, such as taxi companies, trying to deliver to the office.

In order to be included under the cap and considered for processing, applications will have to be completed according to the application kit requirements.  Applications will be considered in order of the date they are received and must be received by CIC’s Case Processing Centre-Mississauga on or after January 2, 2015.

The 5,000 cap is not the first 5,000 applications received, but the first 5,000 complete applications received, as per the document checklist; including any new forms and requirements. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant and will not be counted as part of the cap.

Yes, the age at which the sponsorship obligation period ends for a dependent child has changed. The age limit will now be under 22 years of age instead of under 25 years of age, to reflect the reduction by three years of the definition of dependent child — from under 22 to under 19.

Effective August 1, 2014, the duration of undertaking for sponsorship of dependent children of the sponsor or of the sponsor’s spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner, or for children to be adopted in Canada has changed as follows:

• If the person is less than 19 years of age when they become a permanent resident, the duration of sponsorship undertaking ends on the earlier of either a) the last day of the 10-year period following the day on which they become a permanent resident or b) the day on which the foreign national reaches 22 years of age; or,
• If the dependent child is 19 years of age or older when they become a permanent resident, the duration of sponsorship undertaking ends on the last day of the 3-year period following the day on which they become a permanent resident.

Perhaps. The Sponsor’s Guide has a full list of who can and cannot sponsor someone to live in Canada.

The family members who can come with you to Canada when you immigrate include:

• your spouse or common-law partner,
• your dependent child,
• your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child, and
• a dependent child of a dependent child.

Your parents, grandparents and other family members cannot come to Canada with you. However, you may be able to apply to sponsor them to come to Canada after you immigrate here.

You may apply to sponsor a common-law partner, of the opposite sex or the same sex. If so, you have to prove you have been living with your partner for at least 12 consecutive months in a relationship like a marriage.

That means living together for one year without any long periods where you did not see each other. Either partner may have left the home for work or business travel, family obligations, and so on. However, that separation must have been temporary and short.

A common-law relationship ends when at least one partner does not intend to continue it.

Items that can be used as proof of a common-law relationship include:

• a statutory declaration of a common-law union,
• statements for shared bank accounts,
• shared credit cards,
• proof of shared ownership of residential property,
• shared residential leases,
• shared rental receipts,
• bills for shared utilities accounts, such as
  • electricity,
  • gas or
  • telephone,
• proof of shared management of household expenses,
• evidence of shared purchases (especially of household items),
• mail addressed to either or both of you at the same address,
• important documents for both of you showing the same address, such as
  • identification documents,
  • driver’s licences and
  • insurance policies and
• any other documents that show you have been living together.

You do not need to include all these items to prove your relationship is real. Citizenship and Immigration Canada may consider other proof as well

Photos, telephone bills and letters will not be returned. Do not send videos or CD-ROMs. Documents such as marriage certificates and passports will be returned. However, you should send certified photocopies, not originals.

Yes. If you live in Quebec, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion will send you other forms to fill out.

No. The Case Processing Centre will not send a letter to confirm that it got your application. You will get a letter only if the centre:

• needs more information,
• transfers your application to a local CIC office or
• makes a decision.

See the processing times to find out how long it will take to process your application.

See also Checking Processing Times questions

To help avoid delays or a refusal, make sure that you:

• properly fill out and sign all the application form(s),
• include all documents listed on the Document Checklist (IMM 5287),
• pay your processing fee online with a credit card or at a financial institution, such as a bank,
• order an official receipt (IMM 5401) and have it mailed to you,
• include the proof of payment of your processing fee when you send your application. and
• pay the right of permanent residence fee of C$490, once you get a letter asking you to do so (please see the fee schedule to find out the total cost you need to pay).

It depends on where your application is in the process.

• If your sponsorship assessment has not yet started, you will receive a full refund.
• If your sponsorship assessment has been started, the C$75 sponsorship fee will be kept and the remainder of the fees will be refunded.
• If your sponsorship assessment has been completed, but CIC has not begun processing the application for the person you are sponsoring, the C$75 sponsorship fee will be kept and the remainder of the fees will be refunded.
• If your sponsorship assessment has been completed and CIC has started to process the application for the person you are sponsoring, only the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (C$490 per person) will be refunded (if applicable).

More information on processing fees is available in the application guide.

To cancel a family sponsorship application, contact the Case Processing Centre - Mississauga by:

• Email;
• Mail or
• Fax.

In your request to cancel your application, include the following information:

• Your name;
• Your date of birth;
• Your complete address;
• The date the application was sent;
• Your client ID number (if available);
• The type of application (for example, sponsorship of my spouse);
• The reason for the withdrawal;
• A copy of the electronic payment receipt or a copy of both sides of the payment receipt (Form IMM5401).

If a co-signer is withdrawing from the sponsorship, provide a copy of the Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) and a written acknowledgement of the removal of the co-signer initialed by the sponsor, co-signer and sponsored family member.

Write “withdraw of application” on the envelope, fax or email.

If your file is overseas, you must also send your request to the visa office.

If a final decision was made before we receive your request to cancel your application, you will have to respect your sponsorship obligations.

As of August 1, 2014, only children under 19 years of age are eligible as dependants. Children over 19 years of age will still be considered a dependant if they depend on their parents financially because of a physical or mental condition.

Use this web tool to see if your application is affected by this change.

• Step 1: Check the processing times.
• Step 2: Check your application status online through the Client Application Status service.
• Step 3: If the normal processing time for your application type has passed and you are sponsoring a member of the Family Class, you may also your check case status through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Call Centre.

This depends on a few factors, such as the job you want to work in and what program/stream you will apply under. Usually you will need any number of these:

• proof from Employment and Social Development Canada that the employer can hire you , known as a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA),
• a copy of the proof that your employer has submitted an Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) submitted by your employer,
• a copy of the fee receipt the employer received when they paid the employer compliance fee to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (if you are exempt from the LMIA process and apply to work for a specific employer in Canada),
• the job offer from the employer,
• proof that you are certified or accredited to work in that occupation,
• a visa to travel to Canada,
• a work permit letter of introduction from a Canadian visa office,
• a work permit issued at the border and generally stamped into your passport.

You can find out about jobs in Canada through the Working in Canada tool, labour market information and job banks.

In most cases, your employer must send you either:

• a document from Employment and Social Development Canada stating that the employer can hire you, known as a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and
• the job offer,

or

• a copy of the proof that your employer has submitted an Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) that was submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) by your employer,
• a copy of the fee receipt the employer received when they paid an employer compliance fee to CIC (if you are exempt from the LMIA process and apply to work for a specific employer), and
• the job offer.

Once you have the documents you need, you can apply to get, extend or modify a work permit.

If you are exempt from the LMIA process and eligible for an open work permit, you do not need to provide any documents from an employer.

It depends on the work permit you have. Most work permits are tied to a specific employer. They will only allow you to work for the employer on the permit.

In some situations, you can get an open work permit, which does not include a specific employer. An open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada unless the employer is on the ineligible employer list or the employer, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages.

Most people can come to Canada to work for a maximum of four years. If you are applying for a work permit, you should keep track of the total time you have worked and plan to work in Canada. Once you have completed four years of work as a temporary foreign worker in Canada, you will not be eligible to work in Canada again until another period of four years has passed.

Find out more about the four-year maximum.

Generally speaking, you must apply for a work permit before you enter the country. In some cases, foreign nationals can apply at the border.

If you applied for a work permit before you entered Canada, the visa office may have sent you a letter of introduction that states your application was approved. If so, you must present it when you enter Canada so that your permit can be printed and issued.

Some conditions will be written directly on your work permit.

These may include:

• the type of work you can do,
• the employer you can work for,
• where you can work, or
• how long you can work.

Regulation 185 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations lists all the conditions that may be put on your work permit.

There are also standard conditions that apply to all work permit holders. Even if you have no specific conditions on your work permit, you still must:

• not work for an employer in a business where there are reasonable grounds to suspect a risk of sexual exploitation of some workers, specifically:
  • strip clubs,
  • massage parlours, and
  • escort agencies,
• leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.

Processing times vary, depending on the type of application you submit. Information on processing times is available online for applications submitted inside and outside of Canada. This information is updated frequently, so check often.

See also Checking Processing Times questions.

In some cases, yes.

You can apply for a work permit when you enter Canada if you do not need a temporary resident visa.

An officer will make sure you meet all the requirements before you are allowed to enter Canada.

To apply for a work permit when you enter Canada, you must bring:

• a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that allows the employer to hire you, known as a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), if your employer needs an LMIA to hire you, and
• the job offer or contract from the employer,

or

• a copy of the proof that your employer has submitted an Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) by your employer, and
• a copy of the fee receipt the employer received when they paid an employer compliance fee to CIC if you are exempt from the LMIA process and apply to work for a specific employer in Canada.

You will also need:

• proof that you meet the qualifications and experience for the job you will do in Canada, and
• a valid passport or other travel document.

If you are exempt from the LMIA process and eligible for an open work permit, you do not need to provide any documents from an employer.

If you want to work in the province of Quebec, you may also need:

• a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion.

If you are exempt from the LMIA process, you are also exempt from the CAQ requirement.

Only in some cases. You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if:

• you, your spouse or parents have a valid study or work permit,
• you have a work permit for one job but want to apply for a work permit for a different job,
• you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more, or
• you are in Canada because you have already applied for permanent residence from inside Canada. You will have to pass certain stages in the main application process before you can be eligible for a work permit.

There are other requirements as well.

If you are already in Canada as a visitor, you may not apply within Canada. You must apply for a work permit at a Canadian visa office:

• responsible for the country where you live,
• responsible for the country you are a citizen of, or
• at a Canadian embassy or consulate in the United States of America.

You may be asked to go for an in-person interview at that office. If so, make sure you have all the documents you need to enter that country.

You must check:

• whether you need to fill out any other forms or provide any other documents, and
• how to pay the fee (visa offices do not accept fee payment receipts from banks in Canada).

You can help avoid delays or a refusal if you:

• properly fill out and sign the application form(s),
• include all the documents listed in the Document Checklist (IMM 5556),
• pay the processing fee:
  • online with a credit card or
  • at a financial institution (such as a bank),
• get an official payment receipt (IMM 5401),
• pay for each service, if you apply for more than one on a single application, and
• include proof of payment.

Yes. Your name on your work permit should be exactly as it is on your passport.

If we made a mistake and the name on your permit does not match the name on your passport, submit a Request to Amend the Record of Landing, Confirmation of Permanent Residence or Valid Temporary Resident Documents.

Read the instruction guide to find out how to fill out the form and where to submit

An open work permit is a work permit that is not job-specific. Because it is not job-specific, you will not need:

• an authorization from Employment and Social Development Canada (known as a Labour Market Impact Assessment, or LMIA), or
• proof that an employer has submitted the Offer of Employment form, and
  • paid the employer compliance fee to Citizenship and Immigration Canada when you apply for your work permit.

In most cases, you will have to pay the open work permit holder fee at the same time you pay the work permit fee. Check the fee list for the most up to date application fees.

You may be eligible to apply for an open work permit if you are in one of the following situations:

1. You are already working in Canada and your application for permanent residence has received a positive eligibility assessment under one of the following :
   • Federal Skilled Worker Program
   • Canadian Experience Class
   • Provincial Nominee Program
   • Federal Skilled Trades Program
   • humanitarian and compassionate grounds
   You may also be eligible if you are a family member of someone whose application for permanent residence has been approved under one of the above.
2. You are already in Canada and have applied for permanent residence through the Family Class as a spouse/common-law partner.
3. You have the needed work experience and applied for permanent residence through the Live-in Caregiver Program.
4. Your spouse is
• a skilled worker in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0, A or B or
• a foreign student at a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university or collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec.
5. You have a temporary resident permit valid for at least six months.
6. You are participating in
   • the Canada World Youth Program; or
   • the Working Holiday category of the International Experience Canada initiative.
7. You have filed a claim for refugee protection in Canada and
   • you are waiting for the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to decide on your claim; and
   • you cannot pay for your basic needs without working.
8. The RPD has rejected your refugee claim
   • you cannot be removed from Canada for reasons beyond your control and
   • you cannot pay for your basic needs without working.
9. You are a family member of a foreign representative.
10. You are a family member of a foreign military member who is working in Canada.
11. You are a professional athlete allowed to enter Canada and you need to do other work to support yourself while playing for a Canadian team.

No, you can use the same application form for either type of work permit.

If you apply for an open work permit, you can leave questions 2 to 6 of the “Details of intended work in Canada” section blank.

Under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, there is no formal right of appeal on temporary resident decisions. Instead, you can reapply. If possible, a different officer will examine the application.

You can also ask for a judicial review through the Federal Court of Canada, if you think the process was not fair. A lawyer in Canada would act on your behalf.

You may need a medical exam to get a work permit if:

• you wish to work in a job where it is important to protect public health, such as
  • health services,
  • child care or
  • primary or secondary education, or
• you will be working in an agricultural job and you have lived in a designated country or territory, or
• you want to work in Canada for more than six months, and you lived in a designated country or territory for six consecutive months during the year right before the date you intend to enter Canada.

If you need a medical exam, an officer will tell you so and send you instructions on how to proceed. The officer's decision is based on the type of job you will have and where you lived in the past year.

Only a panel physician authorized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) can do the immigration medical exam.

You can choose a panel physician anywhere in the world. You have to tell him or her where your application will be processed, so that the medical results can be sent to the right office. You will have to pay for the medical exam. The cost can differ from one doctor to another.

See the list of panel physicians to find a doctor in your area. You cannot choose your family doctor if his or her name is not on this list.

It is the letter you receive from the visa office if you applied, and have been approved, for a:

• study permit,
• work permit, or
• Super Visa (only if you are from a country that does not require a visitor visa).

It is sometimes called the Letter of Introduction or Introductory Letter. Officially, it is called the Port of Entry (POE) Introduction Letter. This is not your study permit.

Show this letter to officials at the port of entry when you arrive in Canada to get your study permit. The Introduction Letter is not your study or work permit.

On your port-of-entry POE Introduction Letter is a box titled “Permit validity.” You must come to Canada prior to that date.

If the validity date has passed and you have not yet come to Canada, you must submit a new application.

You cannot extend the validity date on your POE Introduction Letter.

Your POE Introduction Letter will be valid for the requested length of your work permit, study permit or super visa. You may be eligible to extend your work permit once you are in Canada.

Note: International Experience Canada (IEC) participants cannot renew or extend their work permits under IEC.

For International Experience Canada (IEC) participants only:

Your POE Introduction Letter will normally be valid for 12 months. If you underwent a medical exam, it will be valid until the expiry date of your medical exam or for 12 months, whichever is less. When you enter Canada, the officer will give you a work permit that will be valid for the time allowed by the agreement between Canada and your country. If, on arrival, you did not receive the total time you are entitled to as per your country agreement, you will be allowed to extend your work permit for a time period that adds up to – but does not exceed – the maximum allocated time for your country.

No. You do not need to ask for an extension. You will get the total time you are entitled to as per the agreement between Canada and your country when you receive your work permit.

International Experience Canada (IEC) participants normally receive an LOI that is valid for 12 months. If you underwent a medical exam, it will be valid until the expiry date of your medical exam or for 12 months, whichever is less.

When you enter Canada, the officer will give you a work permit that will be valid for the time allowed by the agreement between Canada and your country.

You may apply to extend your work permit if you do not receive the total time you are entitled to, as per your country agreement, when you arrive in Canada.

Yes. Citizenship and Immigration Canada will send you a refund of the open work permit holder fee. You do not have to do anything.

However, you are not eligible for a refund of the work permit processing fee.

You may need one. Citizens of certain countries need a temporary resident visa to enter Canada and stay for a short period. It is a sticker the size of a passport page. It proves that an officer at a Canadian visa office read your application and was satisfied you met the requirements to enter Canada.

Yes, in many countries. For details, visit the Pay your fees page to learn about the methods of payment accepted by Canadian visa offices.

Fill out the Application for a Temporary Resident to Visit Canada.

Starting between September and December 2013, citizens from 29 countries and 1 territory will need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when they apply for a visa.

If your friend or family member wants to visit Canada, they must apply to the Canadian visa office responsible for his or her country or region. A visa officer will review the application and decide whether to issue a visa.

You can help your friend or family member by writing a letter of invitation. It should explain how you will help the person. For example, you may offer to pay for plane tickets or accommodation. A letter of invitation can help, but it does not guarantee the person will get a visa.

Single-Entry Temporary Resident Visa

• If you have a single-entry temporary resident visa, you will generally need a new visa to come back to Canada.
• You can request to return to Canada on your original single-entry temporary resident visa, if:
  • you will only visit the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon; and
  • you will return to Canada before the end of your approved stay in Canada.

Multiple-Entry Temporary Resident Visa

• Yes, you can come back to Canada, if you have a multiple-entry temporary resident visa and it has not expired.

Expired Temporary Resident Visa

• You can ask to come back to Canada on your original temporary resident visa, even if it is expired, if:
  • you will only visit the U.S. or St. Pierre and Miquelon, and
  • you will return to Canada before the end of your approved stay in Canada.

An officer will make sure you meet all the requirements before allowing you to come back to Canada. If you visit any country other than those listed above, you will need a new temporary resident visa.

If you are travelling with a passport:

When you arrived in Canada and gave your passport to the officer, they placed a stamp in your passport and/or issued another document. Check your passport. If you find a stamp, it should look like one of these.

For example, if the officer placed a hand written date as shown above, your temporary resident status would expire on that date (June 30th, 1993 in this case).

If there is no stamp, a handwritten date or document in your passport, your temporary resident status will expire six months from the day you arrived in Canada.

If you were given a visitor record, study or work permit, the expiry date is marked on the document.

There are four basic steps for hiring a foreign worker.

1. Find out if you need to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a document an employer must usually get before they can hire a foreign worker. See Work in Canada Temporarily for information on LMIA and then apply at Service Canada, if needed.
2. If you do not need an LMIA, you have to pay an employer compliance fee and submit an Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) to Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Provide a copy of the form and your fee receipt to the worker you want to hire. They will need to submit this information with their work permit application.
3. Have the new employee worker complete the work permit application.
4. The worker will receive an authorization letter when their work permit has been approved. The actual work permit is issued by a border services officer at the port of entry when the new employee arrives in Canada.

For more details, see Hire foreign workers.

Your employee is entitled to sick leave, as set out in provincial or territorial legislation. Do not force your employee to work if they are ill. The required health or workers' compensation plan in your province or territory should cover the employee.

Your responsibility depends on the coverage provided under these plans. Your employee may also be able to collect Employment Insurance sickness benefits. For more information, contact your provincial or territorial labour standards board.

You can contact the International Mobility Worker Unit that serves your province/territory to assist you if you are an employer who wants to hire a foreign worker.

These units:

• provide an opinion to employers on whether they will need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for the foreign worker they want to hire;
• inform employers as to whether the foreign worker is exempt from the LMIA process or exempt from needing a work permit.

The opinion provided will be considered by officers at the port of entry, when the foreign national applies for his or her work permit. The opinion does not guarantee entry to Canada.

If the foreign worker you want to hire does not need an LMIA, you need to pay an employer compliance fee and submit an Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) before the foreign worker applies for a work permit. A Form Aid is available to help you complete the Offer of Employment form.

Yes. You need to send an email to [email protected]. In your email, indicate that the job offer has been cancelled.

No. After you submit the Offer of Employment form, you need to send a copy of your completed form to the worker. The form must include the fee receipt number for the employer compliance fee that you paid. The worker must include this proof with their work permit application.

The foreign national can apply for a work permit after they receive that document from you.

Yes, as long as you have submitted a Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) (PDF, 596.50 KB) to authorize the immigration lawyer or consultant to act on your behalf.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada may need to get before hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and that no Canadian worker is available to do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a confirmation letter.

Your proposed employer must contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). ESDC will provide details on the LMIA application process.

In some cases, you may not need an LMIA to apply for a work permit.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that gives your employer permission to hire you.

You may apply for a work permit without an LMIA through the International Mobility Program if you are in one of the following situations:

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document an employer may need to get before they are allowed to hire a foreign worker. The LMIA is valid for a limited time. If your employer would like to keep you for a longer period, they must apply for a new LMIA. Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada will make sure there are still no Canadian citizens or permanent residents who can do your job.

Your spouse or common-law partner and children can come with you to Canada or visit you in Canada, if they:

• meet all the requirements for temporary residents to Canada,
• satisfy an immigration officer they will only stay in Canada temporarily,
• can prove they have no criminal record, if necessary, and
• meet all the conditions for getting a temporary resident visa, if they are from a country or territory whose citizens require a visa in order to enter Canada as visitors.

All applicants must complete and sign their own individual form, including persons travelling as a family. A parent or guardian must sign the form for applicants under the age of 18.

If your family members want to follow you to Canada later, they must each fill out an application form.

You may have to send a marriage certificate and birth certificates for those family members. If your common-law partner is coming with you to Canada, you may have to fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union form and provide the documents listed in it to support your relationship.

In some cases, your spouse or common-law partner must apply for a work permit for a specific job. The employer may have to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada. An LMIA allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job.

However, your spouse or common-law partner may be able to apply for an open work permit—allowing him or her to accept any job with any employer—if you meet these conditions:

• you are
  • allowed to work in Canada for at least six months,
  • doing work in Canada that meets a minimum skill level (usually work that requires at least a college diploma) and
  • doing a job listed in Skill Level 0, A or B in the National Occupational Classification.

If your spouse or common-law partner gets an open work permit, it is normally valid for the same period as yours.

In some cases, your spouse or common-law partner will need a medical exam.

Yes. If they have not already applied overseas, spouses and common-law partners may apply for their work permit from within Canada. For more information, including definitions and requirements, see Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker.

If your dependent children want to work in Canada, they must apply for their own work permit. Normally, they must meet the same requirements that you do.

In most cases, your dependent children must apply for a work permit for a specific job. Their employer may have to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a document an employer must usually get before they can hire a foreign worker) from Employment and Social Development Canada. An LMIA allows an employer to hire someone for a specific job.

In some cases, your dependent children will need a medical exam.

It depends on the immigration status of your spouse. If your spouse or common-law partner is a permanent resident, they can work in Canada.

If your spouse or common-law partner is in Canada on a temporary resident (visitor) visa, they have to apply for a work permit to be able to work.

Your spouse or common-law partner can apply for a work permit from inside Canada if:

• they have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more; or
• they have applied for permanent residence as a spouse/common-law partner already living in Canada; or
• they are eligible to apply for a work permit supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) – an authorization from Employment and Social Development Canada an employer needs to hire a foreign worker; or
• they are eligible to apply for a work permit based on an exemption from the LMIA process.

Find out how to apply for a work permit.

If you want to extend your stay in Canada, you should apply at least 30 days before your status expires. You can extend your work permit for a period of time that adds up to — but does not exceed — the maximum of four years of work in Canada. Find out more about the four-year maximum.

See Extending your stay as a worker for details.

Your employer will need to apply for a new Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a document from Employment and Social Development Canada that says that your employer is allowed to hire you if an LMIA is needed. See Extending a worker.

If you are exempt from the LMIA process, your employer will need to pay the employer compliance fee and submit a new Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Temporary residents currently in Canada with a valid study or work permit must submit their application for a new visa to the Case Processing Centre in Ottawa (CPC-O), or visa office that serves their country of nationality.

• If your work permit expires after you have submitted your application for an extension but before you receive a decision on your application, you can stay in Canada under what is called implied status. That means the law implies you are a temporary resident. That status lasts until Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) decides on your new permit application. However, you must respect the following requirements:

  If you applied for another work permit:

  • You must stay in Canada and meet the conditions of your original work permit. If you applied for a work permit extension before your work permit expired, you can keep working under the same conditions as your existing permit until CIC decides on your application, even if you have applied to extend your stay under another category of temporary resident.

  If you applied for a different kind of permit:

  • You cannot do any of the activities allowed by the original work permit. For example, you may have come to Canada as a worker and then applied for a study permit. If so, you must stop working once your work permit expires. After that, you cannot work or study until you get a new permit.
• If you have applied to extend your work permit and plan on traveling outside Canada while your application is in process, you can leave Canada and come back. However, one of three things will happen when you return to Canada:
  • You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a visitor, if Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has not yet decided to extend your work permit. If this is the case, you cannot work until you get your work permit extension. The officer at the port of entry may ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.
  • You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a worker, if the officer at the port of entry finds out that CIC extended your work permit while you were away.
  • You may be asked to apply for a new work permit at the port of entry.

  Note: It is possible that you will not be able to enter Canada. The final decision is made at the border by the border services officer.

See also How can I extend my stay as visitor? and How can I extend my stay as a student?

Yes, you can apply to extend a work permit from inside Canada if the work permit you applied for outside Canada is still valid. You can extend your work permit for a period of time that adds up to — but does not exceed — the maximum of four years of work in Canada. Find out more about the four-year maximum.

You may get an extension if:

• you apply for your new work permit before your current work permit expires,
• you and your employer sign a new employer-employee contract, if applicable, and either
• your employer gets a new document from Employment and Social Development Canada known as a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for your job. This document will allow the employer to hire you, if your job requires an LMIA, or
• your employer pays a new employer compliance fee and submits a new Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, if you do not require an LMIA.

To apply to extend a work permit from inside Canada, you must:

• apply online; or
• send an Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta.

You must submit your application before your current permit expires. You will then be allowed to stay in Canada until a decision is made.

You may continue to work under the same conditions and you will keep your current status until a decision is made. Find out how long it may take to process your application.

If your work permit has expired, find out how to apply for another work permit.

Yes. You can apply to restore your temporary resident status and extend your work permit. You can only do this if your permit expired less than 90 days ago. Because you applied to restore your status after it had expired, you cannot work while this application is in progress.

You can also apply for a new work permit for a period of time that adds up to — but does not exceed — the maximum of four years of work in Canada. Find out more about the four-year maximum.

When you apply, you must:

• include a copy of your new job contract and either

  • an authorization from Employment and Social Development Canada, known as a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), if your job needs an LMIA,

    Or
  • a copy of the proof that your employer has submitted an Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) by your employer, and
  • a copy of the fee receipt the employer received when they paid an employer compliance fee to CIC, if you are exempt from the LMIA process
• check box C for “work permit” on the application form; and
• check box D for “restoration” on the application.
• pay the fees for both the restoration of temporary resident status and a new work permit.

You can apply from within Canada.

Your employer must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) renewal from Employment and Social Development Canada. A positive LMIA allows your employer to hire you. Then, your employer must also apply for a Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) from the Quebec government for your job. See Immigrate and settle in Quebec–Temporary workers.

If you are exempt from the LMIA process, you are also exempt from the CAQ requirement.

Before your current work permit expires, send your application to extend your work permit to the CIC Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta and include copies of:

• the new signed employee-employer contract, and either
  • the new LMIA and Certificat d’acceptation du Québec, if needed, or
  • a copy of the proof that your employer has submitted an Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.12 MB) submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) by your employer and a copy of the fee receipt the employer received when they paid an employer compliance fee to CIC.

In some cases, you may be able to extend your work permit without an LMIA or a CAQ.

To be eligible, you must:

• have been selected under Quebec’s Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés or Programme de l’expérience québécoise and have received a Certificat de sélection du Québec,
• currently be residing in Quebec with a valid work permit,
• have a job offer with your current or new employer in the province of Quebec.

Your spouse or common-law partner will be eligible to apply for an open work permit of the same duration, but neither can exceed two years.

You will be allowed to extend your work permit for a period of time that adds up to — but does not exceed — the maximum of four years of work in Canada, where applicable. Find out more about the four-year maximum.

Yes. You can stay in Canada, and may be able to keep working, under what's called implied status. That means the law implies you are a temporary resident. The implied status lasts until Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) decides on your new permit application. However, you must respect the following requirements:

If you applied for another work permit

• You must stay in Canada and meet the conditions of your original work permit. If you applied for a work permit extension before your work permit expired, you can keep working under the same conditions as your existing permit until CIC decides on your application unless you have applied to extend your stay under another category.

If you applied for a different kind of permit

• You cannot do any of the activities allowed by the original work permit. For example, you may have come to Canada as a worker and then applied for a study permit. If so, you must stop working once your work permit expires. After that, you cannot work or study until you get a new permit.

Yes, if you applied for a work permit extension before your work permit expired, you can keep working until a decision is made on your application.

You must stay in Canada and meet the conditions of your original work permit. For instance, if you have an employer-specific work permit, you must still work for the employer named on that permit.

CIC does not provide confirmation that you have implied status in Canada. However, you should keep proof that you submitted the application before your work permit expired. This includes copies of the application, the fee receipt, and something that confirms the date it was sent and delivered.

You can leave Canada and come back. However, one of three things will happen when you return to Canada.

1. You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a visitor, if Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has not yet decided to extend your work permit. If this is the case, you cannot work until you get your work permit extension. The officer at the port of entry may ask you to prove you have enough money to support yourself in Canada.
2. You may be allowed to come back to Canada as a worker, if the officer at the port of entry finds out that CIC extended your work permit while you were away.
3. You may be asked to apply for a new work permit at the port of entry.

You must also meet all other applicable entry requirements.

You should apply to renew your government ID before your status expires.

These services are provided by the province you live in. If your status has expired and you need to renew your government ID, you will have to apply to the government of the province or territory you live in. That government will decide how and when they renew the documents. For more information, contact the appropriate government department or agency in the province or territory where you live, such as those responsible for health or transportation.

You can apply to restore your work permit in the first 90 days after it expires. If you do this, you can stay in Canada until you get further instructions, but you must stop working until you receive your restored work permit. There is no guarantee that your application will be approved.

Otherwise, you must leave Canada right away when your work permit expires. If you do not leave, you could be deported and will need permission from an immigration officer to come back.

To restore your work permit:

• send an Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta,
• on the form, say you are asking for your status to be restored and your work permit extended, and explain why you stayed in Canada longer than allowed, and
• pay C$200 to for your status to be restored and C$155 for the work permit itself (for a total of C$355).

You can only submit your application without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) if your work permit expires within 2 weeks. You must include proof that the LMIA/CAQ request was made.

You must:

• include a copy of the application sent to Employment and Social Development Canada/Immigration Québec, or
• include a copy of the receipt confirmation number, if the request was done online, or
• indicate, in the section Details of Intended Work in Canada of the work permit application:
  • the date the LMO/CAQ request was sent,
  • the office it was sent to,
  • the employer’s name, and
  • the confirmation number for the submission, if available.

You must contact our Call Centre with the LMIA/CAQ confirmation number within 2 months of the date your application was received; otherwise your application could be refused.

Note: If you are waiting for your CAQ, you cannot submit your application online. You must submit a paper application.

No. However, each country has a unique agreement with Canada. Some countries allow participation in the program more than once. If your country's agreement allows participation more than once, you would have to reapply outside of Canada.

No. The rules for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) differ from those for other work permits. Under the SAWP, you may remain in Canada for a maximum of 8 months between January 1^st and December 15^th. You must leave Canada no later than December 15th. Your employer must request authorization from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to hire you each season. This is known as a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment. More information is available from ESDC and the Quebec’s Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion. Your employer may want to rehire you. Even so, you must go back to your home country before you can apply for another work permit.

Yes. You may get an extension if:

• your employer gets a new document from Employment and Social Development Canada (known as a Labour Market Impact Assessment, or LMIA) for your job, authorizing them to hire you,
• you both sign a new employer-employee contract, and
• you apply for your new work permit before your current work permit expires.

• making sure that your workers have their work permits,
• making sure that foreign workers working for you follow the conditions and time limits outlined on their work permit,
• meeting your commitments to the foreign workers regarding wages, working conditions and the occupation that was listed in the Offer of Employment form (PDF, 1.18 MB) or Labour Market Impact Assessment,
• complying with provincial, territorial or federal employment legislation,
• ensuring that your business remains active during the period of the work permit validity,
• making reasonable efforts to provide a workplace free of abuse, and
• helping the workers obtain the correct documents (for example, social insurance number and medical documents).